Improved thuil-coupung



3 Sheets-Sheet 1. M. HOWE.

, 'Thill Coupling.

I 37,047, v Patented Feb. 16. I869.

' M. HOWE.

'ThiH Coupling '3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Feb. 16, 1869 3 Sheets sheet 3..

M. HOWE.

' 'Thill Coupling Patented Feb. 16, 1869.

Invntor:

W ZZZ Jfiinasses:

PETERS. PHOTO-L TNOGRAFHER 3 in firmer MANLE'Y HOWE, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 87,047, deted Fcbma/ry 16,1869.

IMPROVED THRILL-COUPLING.

The Schedule refer red to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

.To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARLEY Hown, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Coupling for Attaching and Detaching Shafts and Poles to and from Vehicles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,'-making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved coupling, with the thill-irou in place.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same, representing the position of the parts when the thill-iron is released.

Figure 3 is a section on the line a: x of fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a section on the line y y of fig. 1.

Figures 5 and 6, details.

My invention has for its object to provide a ready and convenient means whereby the horse or horses, attachedto a vehicle, may be instantly released therefrom by the driver, in case of accident; and

My invention consists in an improved coupling, in which a loop, at the extremity of the thill-iron, is confined between a cylindrical block and a sleeve revolv- .ing thereon, provided with an opening extending enmanner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawings- A represents the axle of a carriage, to which the band, or clip B, is secured in the ordinary manner, by screw-nuts (1.

From the fiont side of the clip B, and forged in one piece therewith, projects an arm, b, carrying, at its outer extremity, a cylindrical block, 0, provided on its front side with a longitudinal groove, d, for the reception of the straight portion, 6, of aloop, formed at the end of the thill-iron D, which is confined in place within thegroove by means of a cyliifdiical sleeve, E, which is fitted over. the block O, so as to. turn freely thereon, and is held in place by circular plates j; secured to the ends of the block 0, and also'by a screw, g, the end of which projects into a groove, h, fig. 5, in

the said block.

The plates f are provided with notches i, so as to allow the portion, 0, of the thrill-iron, to enter the groove 11 in the block 0. These plates j; however, are not required to hold the sleeve E in place when the screw 9 is used, and vice verse; but I prefer to use the plates, as they give a finished appearance to the The sleeve E is held in the position seen in figs.-1

and 3 by a flat spring, G, which lies in a shallow groove,

m, formed around the sleeve, and is flush with its surface.

This spring G is attached at one end by a screw, 'n, to the arm I), and extends partially aroundthe sleeve E, soas to cover the slot 1, and exclude the dirt and dust therefrom, the outer end of the spring being turned down slightly so as to fit intoa V-shaped groove 0, thus forming a catch, which, in connection with the friction of the spring upon the sleeve E, serves to prevent the latter from being accidentally revolved by the jar or motion of the vehicle. 1

P is a cord or Wire, which is attached to the sleeve E, at q, and passes through a groove, 1, beneath the spring G, to an eye or pulley, s, from which it is led into a position accessible to the driver of the vehicle, and thus, in the event of the horse or horses becoming unmanageable,-it is merely necessary to pull the cord or wire 1), which will-raise the end of the spring G out of the V-shaped groove 0, and revolves the sleeve E, until its opening k is brought opposite the portion 0 of the thill-iron, when the latter is free to bewithdrawn, and the horse may thus be instantly disengaged from the vehicle, as required, the wires of both couplings being led to a central point and connected'together, so that both may be disconnected simultaneously by operating a single cord or wire extending up into the vehicle.

The portion 0, of the thill-iron D, may be suitably packed, in order to prevent it from rattling within the groove d, and the sides t of the loop are inclined, so as -to prevent them from catching against any portion of the carriage, when disconnected from the coupling. It is evident that when the thill-iron is locked securely in place, by the revolution of the sleeve E, there is no liability of its becoming disconnected accidentally by the motion of the vehicle, as the spring G serves to prevent the sleeve from being revolved except by the cord or'wire p, and this revolution of the sleeve E iii-much more easily efiected against the resistance of the draught, than the withdrawal of a pin or pins in some of the devices heretofore used formeleasing horses from vehicles.

The above-described coupling maybe used for attaching either thills-or poles to vehicles, as may be desired; and a strap or other deviccconnected with the harness may be used for supporting the ends of the lindrlcal block 0, with its groove d, and the revolving thills, and preventing them, when' disconnected from sleeve E, with its opening k, and spring G, constructed the vehicle, from striking against the horses heels. substantially as described, and operating in connection 01 with the thill-iron D, as set forth.

MANLEY' HOWE. What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure Witnesses: by Letters Patent, is- P. E. TEsoHEmoHnR,

The within-described c0uplii1g,'0onsisting of the cy- I W. J. OAMBRIDGE. 

